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HomeMy WebLinkAbout121505 JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES Thursday, December 15,2005 Board Members: Geoffrey Masci, Chairman - Port Townsend City Council David Sullivan, Vice Chairman - County Commissioner District #2 Phil Johnson- County Commissioner District #1 Patrick M. Rodgers - County Commissioner District #3 Jill Buhler- Hospital CommissIoner District #2 5 heifa Westerman - Citizen at Lu;ge (City) Roberta Frissell-- Citizen at Lir;ge (County) 5 taft Members: Jean Baldwin, Jefferson County Public Health Director Julia Danskin, Nursing Services Director Thomas Licke, MD, Health Officer Mike McNickle, Environmental Health & Natural Resources Director Meeting called to order at 2:30 by Chairman Masci in the conference room of Jefferson County Public Health. All board and staff members were present with the exception of Member Westerman. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion to approve agenda was made by Board Member Frissell and seconded by Board Member Buhler. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Board Member Frissell motioned to approve the meeting minutes from November 17 and Board Member Buhler seconded the motion. The vote by the Board passed unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENTS Chair Masci called on the public for comments. A community member, Dr. Kimber Rotchford, who is serving on the Substance Abuse Advisory Board, expressed his support of the Board of Health's (BOH) oversight of the Substance Abuse Advisory Board. He requested that the BOH recognize the seriousness of the issue of methamphetamine abuse and to make it a top priority because chemical dependency is a public health issue. Dr. Locke was invited to the annual retreat in February to help with an emergency plan to address this epidemic in our County. A comment that the community is being excluded from BOH proceedings was made. One individual explained how he had requested a copy of the packet during the last meeting and was not happy that he received a public records disclosure form stating it needed to be completed before receiving the meeting information. Another example of potentially excluding the community was the health department's website hasn't been updated since 2004. A request was made for the Board to change the language in the junk car ordinance for car and truck enthusiasts that are actively restoring vehicles. It was suggested that state law be followed when pertaining to solid waste recovery and a copy of the RCW was distributed by a community rnember. Concern with financial and emotional hardship on people was expressed and a statement in regards to how the junk car ordinance doesn't differentiate between dumping stuff on someone else's property verses having your own stuff in your yard was voiced. A request for better clarification for what a person can do with their own cars was made and the importance of treating people with respect and being flexible were identified as significant issues. One community member stated that the junk car ordinance is vague and encourages selective enforcement and prosecution. The possibility of people leaving junk cars on the sides of the road was mentioned and this would be costly to the County. Concern for the large fines and protecting people's rights was voiced. It was suggested to focus on other issues such as the methamphetamine problem. It was stated that the Jeep Junkies FWD and the Mud Toy 4x4 Clubs have assumed responsibility for maintaining the gravel pits from Teal Lake out to Tarboo. They continue to patrol these areas and keep them clean. The concern is the junk car ordinance will lead people to dump stuff across the top of Teal Lake and Tarboo Ridge because there isn't a dumping facility that is affordable or free. Mike McNickle pledged to meet with community members to discuss the new ordinance. Chair Masci explained that an ordinance can be modified and thanked all community members for their comments. OLD BUSINESS Initiative 901 Press Release and Statutory Chanl!es Jean Baldwin explained how this is a two-phase operation. Phase I is education-public outreach and posting of signs on public buildings. The law went into effect December 8. Public Health will bring the enforcement and appeal process to the Board of Health in January for Phase 2. Department of Health did a mailing to all establishments within the county who sell liquor and the next mailing will go to those who sell food. Jean informed the Board that the complaint line is operating and Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) is working with owners regarding indoor air and is also working with David Alvarez to draft an ordinance that will address how JCPH handles the enforcement for establishments. Enforcement for individuals who stand within the allowed 25 ft. of an entrance or open windows of public buildings is a law enforcement issue. Jean stated that JCPH will not be enforcing outside air issues and that a citation process is needed for establishments who continue to allow smoking. This initiative became a law without detailed enforcement procedures specified. This will require the local BOH to adopt rules and policies about how we enforce it. Complaints are currently being processed through the Environmental Health Division. Junk Vehicle Enforcement Policv Mike McNickle completed a draft of a junk vehicle enforcement policy because there was a request for clarification on enforcement. Mike discussed the possibility of hosting town hall style meetings to answer questions about the policy and encourage discussion about what is best for the community. Board Member Pat Rogers spoke in favor of public input and expressed that the importance of public process in policy development. Board Member Frissell spoke of utilizing the newspaper to advertise agenda items and expressed her disappointment of the website being so out of date. Board Member Buhler mentioned her preference in regards to the junk car ordinance to consider amendments to the ordinance and not just policy changes. Dr. Locke explained that what is in the ordinance establishes the intent of the Board and the authority to take action in specific circumstances. If those aspects of the ordinance are confusing or in need of modification, amendments to the ordinance should be made. He also stated policy doesn't make new law; it just explains how the law will be interpreted and enforced. Board Member Buhler suggested having the ordinance clarify the discrepancy between "abandon" and ')unk." Board Member Sullivan made a motion for Mike McNickle to meet with the public as planned and come back with recommendations on how to change either the policy or ordinance as appropriate. The motion was seconded by Board Member Johnson and the vote passed unanimously. Brief Recess for a consultation 3:37p.m. NEW BUSINESS Public Hearinl!: 3:40p.m., Community Health & Environmental Health Fees Mike McNickle reviewed the 2006 fee schedule, explaining that all fees except for the On-Site program fees were increased 3.7%, the current consumer price index increase. The On-site fees were increased 16% in order to hire an EH Technician, which was recommended in the Latimore report on permit process improvements. This new position will help achieve a two-week turnaround time and to improve customer service. Board Member Rogers expressed the importance of the fees reflecting the work and the cost content that goes into the service provided. Mike assured Board Member Rogers that 100% of the costs will be covered. Jean explained that there were no real changes in the other public health fees but there was clean up around laboratory services and methods. Fees schedules are available at the front desk. Jean informed the Board that fees for direct care services change throughout the year as they are indexed to the Department of Social and Health Services. Chair Masci called on the public for comments. There was a request of having the EH fees posted on the website with the BOH agenda to inform the public. Board Member Rogers inquired if the JCPH satisfied the legal requirement for public process. Jean Baldwin responded that public notification requirements and timelines had been followed. Chair Masci suggested a motion relative to adopting the Jefferson County Public Health & EH fee schedule and Board Member Frissel made the motion. Board Member Buhler seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Chair Masci stated for the record that the Board reviews fees annually to be in compliance with the law relative to service equaling cost of administration and delivery. Hearing closed at 3:45p.m. Jefferson County Youth Report Jean Baldwin reviewed the healthy youth data from last school year, which included 6, 8, 10, and 12 graders. She informed the Board that the report presents a highlight approach in order for people to see what the main issues are and how the schools were required to participate in the survey conducted this year. Jean also explained the difference between core and non-core questions used in the survey and how each impacted the results. She notified the Board that the report gives enough information for grant writers and policy makers. Chair Masci expressed the importance of community health assessment to know what problems need to be addressed. He praised the hospital for their willingness to participate and spoke of the importance for the City's continued support for assessment activities. Board Member Rogers agreed that drug use is a serious problem in our community and it has made it difficult for employers to hire. Board Member Sullivan requested support from the Board and suggested seeking support from other boards to try to find funding for interventions. The statistics in BRFSS and Healthy Jefferson reports has been able to bring people together and make a difference. Chair Masci spoke of how the Board must act on the next set of data and not ignore the problem or trends. Dr. Locke reported on a discussion with Vic Dirksen, CEO of Jefferson Health Care, about using the Joint Board format to review assessment data and to make a commitment to review it on a regular basis as a way to sustain assessment efforts. He said it may be possible for the first meeting to take place in February or March and he explained that using the Joint Board offers the opportunity for the policy makers to make the commitment for organizations to work together. Board Member Rogers requested that an invitation be extended to the rest of the City Council to attend and hear in a comprehensive way the content of this work. Board Member Rogers expressed that this is one area the City and County share a very strong commitment. Jean Baldwin asked for volunteers from the Board to read the next draft of the Jefferson County Youth Report to help have it ready for the public. Board Members Frissell, Buhler, and Chair Masci volunteered. Hood Canal Sanitarv Survey Proiect Update Mike informed the Board that Environmental Health is performing sanitary surveys, funded by Department of Ecology, to residents from the shoreline Tala Point to Triton Beach. The purpose of the survey is to look for sources of nitrates and fecal coliform bacteria near the Hood Canal. The grant amount is $70,000 for two years. There will be three meetings in January with the public to promote participation. The samples returned from the lab so far have shown no significant levels of nitrogen or fecal coliform. Pandemic Influenza Update Dr. Locke explained that this is a real issue that we need to be prepared for. He reported that he has been meeting with the hospital, made presentations to rnedical staff, and is scheduled to attend the Infection Control Committee meeting in January. One of the key challenges will be keeping all the essential services in communities running for the three to six month period when pandemic influenza will be moving through the population. Businesses should have plans on how to stay in business. There needs to be plans to keep food in the grocery stores, water plants running, and fuel available. He stated that the hospitals and health departments by and large know what they need to do and have plans in place, but need to do training to make sure our communication systems work and everyone knows what their responsibility is. The big challenge is getting new partners who have not been involved in emergency preparedness to understand they need to participate in preparedness activities. The Kitsap County Health District hosted an all day community forum and it went well. Jefferson and Clallam are considering a forum to be held somewhere between January and March. Dr. Locke requested participation from the Board. Jean Baldwin informed the Board that public health is working with the school districts and some individuals in high risk areas by providing informational packets and there are packets ready to be distributed to the largest employers. Julia Danskin mentioned that public health will respond the best way it can, but some community people thought the hospital and public health would be able to meet their needs more readily. We need to let people know what our capacity allows. Dr. Locke supported Julia's comments by stating our ability to respond to a pandemic influenza emergency will be limited by the infrastructure that we have in place at the time of the emergency. Substance Abuse Membership Nominations Chair Masi reported that the interviewing committee, consisting of Board Member Rogers, Jean Baldwin, and himself met and reviewed resumes. Interviews were conducted and Chair Masci nominated Dr. John Chiles as an appointee to the Substance Abuse Advisory Committee. Board Member Rogers seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Activitv Update/Ae:enda Plannine: . Junk vehicles . 1-901 . Healthy Youth/BRFSS . Mental Health Sales Tax . Substance Abuse Board and Law & Justice should be working with John to put together a six year budget plan. Board Member Rogers recommended Jean Baldwin to be involved because of prevention programs. . Board Retreat . Election of new Chair Board Member Rogers moved to adjourn the meeting at 4:28p.m. Board member Sullivan seconded the motion. Next meeting is scheduled Thursday, January 26,2006 from 2:30p.m. - 4:30p.m.at Jefferson County Public Health. JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH eo asci, Chair 1 /1 J' /: .~ (/ /11 (. {L~//" Daj~ullv~, Vice ~ J9~~ Excused Sher'1a;~..! ......e~t.e,~an, Member ;..," / ilW . . '. Jvl'V t". -----.. Phil J on, Member